Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth or Merlin

She heard voices in the dark, men's voices. No... The men! She tried to wake but was much too weary to open her eyes. She drifted in and out of darkness, hearing only the voices all around her. She finally felt herself being pulled over and down, then being painfully held up by a pair of rough hands. Something jerked her head up and now she was completely alert looking up at her captors. She stifled a scream at the sight of men surrounding her on all sides, leering at her. Then she saw an old woman behind the group of restless men. A beautiful, old woman with soft and gentle features; and even from a distance she was able to see the deepest pair of blue eyes staring directly at her.

She saw the old woman push her way through the men. The woman began to yell at the one holding her up, but with the same inaudible voice. The older woman paused for a moment glaring at her captor, and in a flash the woman reached out and struck the man holding her. In that moment of fitful excitement, the girl fell into blackness again.

Ianna wiped the last of the mud off of the pale brow of the sleeping girl. "There we are," she said to herself. After all of these years, she was still a damn good healer. She could still set a cast and wrap a bandage faster than any of the younger women here. But she took great care with each of her patients. From the filthiest and harshest of men to this frail, unconscious girl she was tending to. She cared for them with her experienced, aged hands.

The healer woman was careful to avoid the bruises on the girl's bare skin, and she made sure each cut; each scratch was clean and bandaged. But she felt a brief rush of anger as she dipped her cloth back in a bowl of water. The mere thought of her harsh arrival made her old blood run hot.

She rose before the sun did, like she did every morning to gather her herbs and fetch clean water, although it had become increasingly harder for her each day. Camelot had been home ever since her king had ordered those still residing in Pendragon Castle to relocate. He had wanted a new, golden city of truth and justice. And it had become so, even in his absence.

Ianna let her aide, Keely, sleep in. She liked to do the morning chores by herself, and she preferred to greet the Sun each morning with no suspicious looks in her direction. She heard the horses coming before she saw the riders charge in through the gate. "More useless news," she thought bitterly. "Our King will not return until his God himself tells him to."

The company rode in single file and she recognized each of them even with the helmets on their heads. But there was something strange about the company this time; they had brought something with them. She made her way to the main gate to get a better look. Someone was thrown carelessly over the back of one of the pack horses, tied with the other supplies as if the person was a sack of grain. The riders stopped at the main entrance and proceeded to untie their supplies as well as the limp body with them. She nearly dropped all of her herbs at what she saw.

A girl!

They had a young girl with them, no more than eighteen years. But tied like a worthless sack to one of their pack horses. She saw one of the men drag her down by the arms over the horse's back and hold her up for the other young men to see. The dazed girl was slumped in his arms, filthy to be sure, covered in mud from hair to boot. The young men wanted a better look at their prize, thus the man holding her grabbed a fistful of long, dark hair and jerked her head back. The girl had been drifting in and out of consciousness for a time, but now she stared up in wide-eyed horror at her captors.

That was all Ianna needed to see. She pushed her way through the crowd of men with her free arm. A few were shocked to see a typically gentle woman shove her way through a pack of young men, while others already felt a punishment coming their way.

She was old, but her voice was unwavering and held the authority of a queen. "Animals! All of you! You call yourselves young men of honor! I call you all swines for this sort of treatment, and to a lady!

The young man holding the girl laughed out loud. "Come, old woman we were just having some fun before we give her away."

Ianna's voice became deathly cold. "To whom?"

He winked at the others. "Sir Boris might like her."

The other boyos laughed but Ianna abruptly dropped her things. The boy looked up too late, startled as her hand flew against his cheek. He swallowed once, downing his surprise before looking up at her with a considerably humiliated stare.

The frightened girl in his arms collapsed and fell limp.

"Give her to me," Ianna ordered.

The young man was still too stunned at her sudden burst of violence, it was honestly the first time any of them had seen a calm woman like Ianna strike anyone.

"Are you hard of hearing, boy? I said give her to me!" Ianna reached out and began to pry the girl out of the shocked man's arms when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Ianna…" a calm voice said behind her.

She continued to try and pull the girl away while addressing the man behind her without turning. "Cael, the lack of decency on the part of your boys tarnishes your own reputation. See how they treat this poor girl."

The older man stretched his arm across Ianna and pulled her away. "It's alright," his blue eyes bore down unto the boy. "Let me deal with Boris and the others. I've already reported. Finish unpacking our things – now."

At this last command, the young men scattered. Cael walked with a limp, but he was still in his prime. He could beat any one of these young bucks into a bloody mess. But despite his powerfully built appearance he was extremely careful with this frail girl. He gingerly took her in his arms.

"Put her head up," Ianna ordered. Cael shifted her upper body a bit until she settled neatly with her head tucked against his shoulder. "Follow me," she said, satisfied.

He courteously obeyed. Ianna had helped him with a little problem he was having with his wife in the marriage bed several years ago. He owed Ianna a lot.

Ianna was just about finished putting a fresh linen robe on the sleeping girl. She turned to the servant girl behind her. "Keely, more blankets if you will." The skinny, young girl rushed to the other side of the room.

Ianna turned back to her work and proceeded to put the girl's right arm through the sleeve when she noticed a peculiar stain on her wrist. "I could not have missed a spot," she thought. She turned her arm to get a closer look. "Oh dear," she whispered. A spot of dirt would have been one hundred times better than what she found on the girl's bare skin.

On the inside of her right wrist was a faint, but visible mark of three lines. The two outer lines stretched out and over, with the middle line curving upward, forming a sort of flower pattern. The most disturbing part of the markings was found lying beneath the flower. Two triangles, one facing up and the other facing downward, forming the Star of David – a sign of a Jew. "A Diaspora Jew," she whispered. "How did she end up in Britannia? And this flower… so strange…"

Keely had arrived back with the blankets just then, and Ianna hurriedly placed the girl's arm through the sleeve and rushed to meet the servant girl.

"Here." Ianna reached for the blankets, blocking the girl from the sight of her sleeping patient. "Hand them over."

The sound of clay shattering on the floor startled them both and Ianna jumped around to find her seemingly frail patient standing upright, looking ready to flee.

Ianna tried to stay calm. A frightened young lady would not do well running about the castle grounds like a headless chicken. "And with that mark," she thought. "It's alright, girl." She started to advance slowly, but the girl had her arms outstretched and she stepped back with each step Ianna took towards her. "I'm not going to hurt you."

At that, the dark-haired girl flailed her arms and stumbled out of panic. She whipped around trying to find a way out, until she found a small door behind her.

"Be still," Ianna cried. But the girl had already rushed away. She fell against the door, flung it open, and ran out into the corridor. Ianna desperately tried to call her back while stepping her way through water and broken clay. But it was too late; the girl had disappeared down the dimly lit corridor.

It seemed as if centuries had passed till she finally felt warm sunshine on her face again. Light crept into her eyelids and forced them open with a start. Now where was she? It was someplace new and strange, with walls that seemed to close in around her. She was clean and dressed in a white linen robe, but panic began to flow into her again.

"No! No more!" She screamed in her head, and with that she flew off the cot she was lying on unto the cold, stone floor; effectively knocking down a clay jar that had been next to her feet. She was able to stand on her feet but when she looked up she saw two pairs of anxious eyes staring at her. Blue eyes… she remembered the old woman staring at her earlier this morning.

The same woman began to advance towards her, trying to soothe her with… what? More muffled, incoherent voices! It was like being completely submerged in water, with the voices barely heard above the surface. It both infuriated and completely terrified her.

She thought she could survive yesterday morning; that she could withstand whatever misfortune came her way. She walked into that valley with her head held high, even without a memory or a name. She had that fire inside of her that burned brightly with strength and confidence. But at this moment, she felt completely defeated. After spending the entire day and night in a cold storm without food and shelter, and then the terrifying ordeal with the men, and now faced with two more strangers... that was it. She was broken. Broken and defeated. She was now suddenly aware that she was exhausted, starving, and very alone.

The old woman advanced on her and for a moment, she was frozen to the spot. Her body suddenly convulsed and in a fit of panic, whipped around violently trying to find a way out. She found a small door behind her, ran towards it, threw it open and ran out within a matter of seconds. She could still hear the woman calling for her, but what use would it do if she couldn't even understand anything anyone was saying?

She ran from corridor to corridor, dodging confused-looking strangers and making every attempt possible to stay as far away from armored men as she could. She ran up and down staircases in her bare feet and passing door after window wearing only her white robe. Until she finally reached a smaller corridor which seemed to be tucked away from the rest of the castle. She flung open the door that was hidden in the corner, and hurriedly slipped inside the room. As soon as she was inside she slammed the door shut and rested her forehead against the wood; holding back her tears as she tried to catch her breath.

She whipped around hearing, or rather feeling someone behind her. The room she found herself in was well-lit by sunlight coming in through the highest window. In the center of the room she saw the silhouette of a man. His back was turned to her and he seemed to be very preoccupied in whatever he was doing because he apparently did not even hear her rush in.

She watched him for a few moments, knowing that he didn't hear her. Should she run again? No. She was tired of running. Besides, where could a girl without a name go? She was a stranger in an equally strange place. She had no memory of family, friends, places, people… She sank to the ground, hugged her knees to her chest and just watched the man, with his back turned to her.

But just as she sat to watch him work, he raised his head as if he finally knew she was present. He couldn't have heard her. Did he feel her here in this room? Like she did him moments ago…

He turned his head to look at her. What she saw in his face took her breath away, and she rose slowly to her feet again. Something happened then between the two of them. She felt the whole room become suddenly illuminated, or perhaps it was because of the comforting warmth she now felt in her heart, something very similar to what she had experienced yesterday morning. And it all came from him.

He was a strong built, middle-aged man with sandy brown hair and the kindest face she had seen yet. His eyes seemed to glow when he saw her, but she also saw a deep sadness hidden there, just below the surface. His shoulders were broad, but he also looked crushed, like he was trying to hold the entire weight of the castle itself upon them.

He smiled. And his smile! The room did indeed become brighter. "Hello."

She had to put both hands on the door to hold herself up. She heard him! She could understand his words; his wonderful, beautiful words. It felt as if she had finally emerged from beneath the watery surface.

Although she was relieved, even thrilled to hear his voice, she did not move from her spot.

His face held concern. "You seem to be lost. I don't think I've seen you here before."

Still she did not speak or even move; only stood staring at his seemingly radiant form. He began to walk towards her, but abruptly stopped when she cowered back. "It's alright." He tilted his head and smiled again. "My name is Merlin." A brief moment went by. "Do you have one?"

Still nothing. She only looked… and listened.

And it was looking into those dark, wary eyes of hers that Merlin realized he would have to do most of the talking. "Well," he started, "in any case, you look as if you hadn't slept in days much less eaten anything." He turned back to his worktable, looking it up and down until he found and reached over to a small pile of seeds in the far corner. He took a small pinch and gently spread them over a small bowl. He then proceeded to wave his hand over it, and as his hand passed over the contents a second time a small breath of steam drifted above it.

Picking up the bowl, he slowly made his way to the corner where the girl had cowered into. He thankfully noticed that she didn't flinch as he moved towards her. She didn't blink either, but he did not want to frighten her any further. He stood an arm's length away from her and offered the small bowl to her. "Drink this," he said softly, "broth with dill seeds. You don't want anything solid right now, and the seeds will help ease any hunger pains you may have. "

The dark haired girl still eyed him warily for a moment, but every inch of her body was telling her that everything was all right, that this man was to be trusted. But he was still a stranger…

Merlin had seemed to sense her inner conflict. "If you want me to, I can just leave it here on the floor until you're ready to drink it." He smiled and tilted his head again. "If you want it to get cold that is, and this is not at all as delicious when it's cold."

She wasn't hungry, she was starving, and at that she slowly reached out for the bowl.

Merlin didn't move a muscle as she took the bowl into her trembling fingers. He only watched as she put the bowl to her lips, tasted the contents, and proceeded to drink much more rapidly than he would have expected.

The broth wasn't tasteful, but it wasn't bad either; and when she was finished, she watched him over the rim of the bowl, silently begging for more.

"Here," he said, reaching out, "I'll give you some more."

She flinched a bit as he reached out for the bowl, but she didn't cower away from him. She let him take the bowl from her fingers, and as his hands grazed hers, both of their eyes flew open in amazement at the current that passed between them.

Merlin knew that the power he held in his hands would have some effect on whomever he touched. He simply had not expected to be thrown off balance by the power flowing back at him from the girl shrinking away in the corner. It took him a few moments to steady himself again, but the girl seemed as if nothing had happened just now. In fact, she looked a little calmer than she had a few moments ago.

In his whole life of being a half-mortal, a sorcerer, he had never felt that current of power before. Something similar to it perhaps, but there was only one person he experienced that with. And that was love, true love; a passionate loyalty that went far beyond words.

This was calm, tender, and loving. But it was the love felt for others, the love of family and friendships, for people… this was something he had not felt in a long time. But the energy he felt that came with it was far more powerful then anything he had ever experienced. Even in his training. This revelation had actually frightened him, a power so strong coming from this scared, young girl. But who in the name of hell was she? He supposed he would know sooner or later, he would consult his books, perhaps meditate on it. For now there was a stranger whom needed to be taken care of.

Seeing that she was not troubled by what had just happened between them, he took the bowl from her and went back to his worktable to prepare another helping of broth and dill seeds. He waved his hands over the bowl once again, and when he gave it back to her, she took it without hesitancy, even when she had seen what he had done… waving his hands, using magic to warm the broth.

"She must be hungry indeed," he thought. "No one here would have taken something from me so easily. But she is so obviously not from here."

The girl finished her second helping and stepped out of the shadows into the sunlight, curious to see what was outside of his window. Now that she was in the light, Merlin was able to see her more clearly. What a beautiful young girl she was! Her long, ebony hair deeply, but beautifully, contrasted with her pale skin. A night sky pillowed in the moonlight of her skin. There was a hint of a child still left in her, especially in her expression, and when she craned her neck to look out the window he did indeed see more of a little girl then he did of a young woman. Her eyes became wider and her mouth nearly dropped, she was completely fascinated by the sight that greeted her.

He came to her side and slowly took the finished bowl from her. Again, she didn't flinch when he came near her; a huge relief on his part. "It's a beautiful sight, isn't it? When the sunlight hits this lake just right, it's almost like, well magic." He smiled as he spoke this last word.

But she still did not answer him, and he was not sure if it was from the present scenery she seemed to be entranced with, or is she indeed could not speak at all.

Seeing her shiver, Merlin picked up a fur-lined robe from a chair and draped it gently over her shoulders. Her eyes skimmed over the robe he had given her, and then were slowly raised to meet his own. Looking into those innocent eyes of hers he felt a sudden wave of fierce protection, an abrupt calling, an almost frightening passion to protect this fragile creature at any cost necessary. A king protecting his country, a farmer with his land, a man with his family, a father with his child; that is how he felt looking down at that lovingly pure face of hers. And then she did something that broke him completely.

She smiled. And just like that, he was completely hers.

She held his eyes for a few moments, and then her gaze drifted past his shoulder to something standing behind him. She tucked the robe closely around her and silently walked past him, her curiosity now shifting to something completely different.

On top of a pedestal draped in sunlight was a polished wooden statue of a lion. A lion that seemed to look right at her, and that beckoned to her. She stood in front of it and studied his daunting form carefully. His face was frozen in a silent roar, and he stood with his front paw raised as if ready to claw. But he still seemed to look straight at her, into her eyes. But he was a statue of smooth, polished wood; his claws and eyes inlaid with gold. His features were carved so perfectly that she could have sworn he was inside that wood. She went right up to the effigy until she was face to face with him, and looked it up and down, taking in every detail, studying each marking. He looked so powerful, so formally regal; an ever-present stubborn arrogance evident in those eyes. Eyes that seemed to penetrate even from within the gold-laden wood. They seemed real, glowing, boring into hers as she looked into them. She suddenly had the irresistible urge to lift her fingers to the face and touch it. Giving in, she ran her hands and fingertips over the mane, the eyes, and over each fang.

Merlin quietly walked up to her side, completely taken by her childlike innocence; though she didn't seem to mind him watching her, she was much too absorbed with the powerful wooden effigy in front of her. As she moved her right arm higher to touch the top waves of the lion's mane, the sleeve of both her robe and her gown slipped below her wrist, exposing the strange mark Ianna had noticed earlier; though the girl had no idea that a mark so bizarre was on her wrist in the first place.

Merlin had indeed noticed the lines of a flower and a Star of David, which was an obvious sign of a Jew. But why would a Jew tattoo their ethnicity and religion so blatantly on their wrist? And a flower? He would definitely consult his books tonight.

"This was brought here from Jerusalem, as a gift for the King." He rested his hand on the muscular shoulder of the lion. "Do you like it?"

She softly nodded her approval.

Merlin silently rejoiced at her response and paused briefly before continuing. "You don't have a name do you?" He kept his voice as calm and as gentle as possible.

She only looked at him, and made no answer.

Merlin took this as a no.

"Then I shall give her one."

"There is a name in Hebrew, the language of the Jews, it means lioness of God." He looked down into her green eyes for just a moment. "Ariella. It's a lovely name, isn't it?"

She seemed to struggle for a moment and made a small noise in the back of her throat before she blinked and shifted her gaze a bit and looked back up at him again. "Ariella?" Her voice was no more than a whisper.

Merlin smiled. "Your name is Ariella."

"Ariella…"

The name rolled off of her tongue so easily, and it sounded so warm coming from him, coming from Merlin.

A loud knocking was suddenly heard at the door, and Ariella immediately shrunk back behind the lion as if it would protect her. But Merlin calmly regarded her before he went to the door. "It's alright. No harm will come to you." He meant that with every ounce of his being.

He quickly went to the door, opened it and found a handsome, dark haired man staring back at him. "Cael," Merlin casually crossed his arms across his chest. "What can I do for you?"

"It seems we have a runaway about the castle grounds," Cael replied.

"Do you?" Merlin gave him a half-smile.

"Have you seen her? Ianna will have my head if I don't find her soon, and she wasn't quite specific about which head she would be hacking."

Merlin laughed quietly to himself. Ianna could be the most gentle and kind of women, but when it came to her patients, she took on the overprotective characteristics of a mother bear. "I have seen her."

Cael breathed a sigh of relief. "Is she here? She is safe…"

"She's fine. A bit on edge, but otherwise fine."

"I suppose some of that was my fault. I let my men get carried away." Merlin's face suddenly went deathly cold. Fortunately, Cael noticed. "Nothing happened I assure you. I would never let my men commit such acts. Ianna came just before I noticed anything."

Before Merlin could say a word, Ianna hurried up to Cael's side accompanied by another man. "Have you seen her?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes," Merlin replied calmly, "she is here, with me."

Both Cael and Ianna became still for a moment. Ianna straightened and without losing eye contact said, "Let me see her."

Merlin gave no reply, merely stepped aside to let her pass.

Ianna found the dark haired girl hiding behind the statue of the lion. She peered around a front claw, and almost moved towards her but her fear got the better of her and she shrunk back again.

Ianna turned back to Merlin. She looked at him with a countenance she hardly ever gave. Her eyes became almost black in color and her hair looked more silver than gray. Her lips were thin when she spoke. "Merlin, I need to speak with you." She walked right past him without saying another word.

Merlin looked to the girl before turning away. "I'll be back shortly. Don't run away." He smiled at her before he walked out the door and closed it behind him.

Merlin then turned to Cael. "If you would keep watch, I would be grateful to you." Cael nodded before Merlin joined Ianna.

Both Merlin and Ianna stood facing each other in the shadows, the only source of light was a sunbeam from the other end of the hall.

"Have you seen it?" Ianna asked hurriedly.

Merlin crossed his arms. "I have. I've never seen anything like it before, both the flower and the Star."

"Peculiar to say the least." Ianna never lost eye contact and her face was like stone. "What will we do? I believe we are the only two who have seen it."

"She has not said a word to me. I've no idea who she is or where she's from. Given that, she's not safe anywhere outside of the castle grounds."

Ianna's eyes became even darker. "She's had quite a scare. It may take some time before she says anything at all. Not even a name?"

He hesitated before answering. "Ariella."

She took a rather deep breath. "And where will she stay? With you? I doubt the Queen would allow it."

"She needs seclusion now. I fear she may die of fright if she's forced to live with several other strangers."

"It will come in time." Her expression softened slightly. "I have seen that look before, Merlin. There's no mistaking it, you already care for this girl. I've seen that fierce look deep in your eyes before. Both in you and Ambrosia."

Merlin did not reply. But Ianna's eyes saw almost right through him. "She was my dearest friend…" She snapped back to her former expression. "We will take this matter to the Queen, the both of us. In the meantime, see that you do something about that mark." With that, Ianna hurried past him and disappeared down the hallway.

Merlin stood in his place for a long time after that.

A snow white owl stayed perched on a nearby tree branch looking into the window at the sleeping girl. This was her? This young thing was who he had feared so greatly the night before…

The Goblin King had rushed over to Camelot in the dead of night after his meeting with Queen Mab. He needed to see for himself. He needed to see who was powerful enough to hide from him; who was strong enough to send cold shivers down his spine without even knowing it.

And it was this girl who was doing it? Impossible. She still seemed just a child. Her dark hair was strewn wildly about her face and pillow, and her pink mouth was slightly open as she slept. She was quite beautiful and in her sleep she seemed even lovelier. This angered Jareth even more, a young girl to do this to him; and no idea as to who she was. He at least knew a girl before he took them; he knew what they were really like beneath the skin, sometimes they were innocent and he broke them, sometimes they were cruel like him, and he broke them just as easily.

But this girl intrigued him beyond reason. He could not see who she really was. Was she cruel or innocent, or was she simply clever enough for the Fae's tricks? Somehow none of that mattered much looking down at her…

"No!" He literally shook his feathers out of frustration. Not wanting to linger anymore, he spread his wings and flew back to his castle.

He would have changed to his human form and taken her the minute he flew into Camelot, but Merlin was a powerful wizard too, and there were rules to abide by. Rules that would need twisting…

AN: Thanks to Anij, Midnight Lady, and notwritten. Sorry Kute Anime Kitty - one more chapter, but thanks!

Shalom y Amor